Fatunla: undying passion for medicine

Justice Ilevbare recalls the life and times of Late Dr Victor Olubi Fatunla, former Director of Medical Services, Nigeria Baptist Convention who died on June 17 in South Africa.

For Dr Victor Olubi Fatunla, death has brought to an end a fruitful medical practice on planet earth. While he will be missed by his family and friends, those whose lives he touched one way or the other will forever remain grateful to God for bringing their way.

Though, Fatunla is no more, his exploit in the medical field and his undying passion for the profession stood him out throughout his lifetime. No wonder he had a rich resume and expertise, which can only be matched be very few of his equals dead or alive today.

Born on the January 12, 1932 to the family of Reverend Nathaniel Faboyade Fatunla and Mrs. Joanna Aina Fatunla in the town of Igede – Ekiti in Ekiti State, the late Fatunla started his education at Baptist primary School Igede Ekiti in 1938 and completed it at Baptist primary School, Benin City in 1945.

In his quest to get a secondary education, he then progressed to the prestigious Baptist Boys High school, Oke -Igunya, Abeokuta which he completed in 1952 and passed his Cambridge exams with flying colors.

He began his working career very early in life at the Audit department and secretariat of the federal government of Nigeria (then still under colonial rule). He also had the privilege of working with the then African Bank.

While working at the federal government’s metrological department, he also embarked on private studies of pure mathematics, applied mathematics and physics. He wrote and passed GCE advanced level in these three subjects. Then wrote and passed as Jamb in 1954.

At that time several opportunities came his way, but the problem of making up his mind on which to take up was quite a challenging one. He obtained a federal government scholarship to study meteorology in England, got admission to the University College of Ibadan to study Engineering, was offered a Baptist mission scholarship to study Education and also had a childhood interest in becoming a doctor having been coached by his father.

Even though he had already started his Engineering studies whilst contemplating the dilemma he was faced with. He remembered that he had been admitted into the government hospital for arthritis in 1948 where he found out that there was only one doctor in the entire hospital and district.

At that point, he had promised God that he would be a missionary doctor in future so as to be able to help the doctor. This was the answer he was looking for and subsequently changed his study to medicine which was sponsored by the Baptist mission.

He got his MBBS London in 1962 and then proceeded to Lagos University Teaching Hospital for internship where he got a federal government scholarship to enroll for post graduate studies in surgery in London in 1966.

He became a fellow of the royal college of surgeons England in 1969. It was at this point that he heard about the Baptist mission wanting to wind down hospital operations in 3 towns in Nigeria.

Worried by this development and a careful deliberation and divine guidance, he decided to go to Saki, Oyo state to resuscitate the hospital in 1970. He grew it from a dispensary to a 100 bed hospital by 1976. By the time Dr Fatunla retired from Baptist Hospital Saki in 1998, he had expanded the hospital tremendously.

Some of the exploits he recorded at the hospital include, linked the hospital as a faculty to UCH in 1976. He was an associate lecturer; increased number of hospital beds to 200; established Baptist midwifery school Saki in the early 80’s; established Baptist nursing school Saki in the early 90’s, established Baptist nursery school Saki in the 80’s and Baptist Primary school in the late 80’s. Others are Baptist Secondary school Saki in the late 80’s, established four additional hospitals around Oke-Ogun in the 80’s and early 90’s, adviser to several associations in Oke- Ogun region and director of Baptist medical services in Nigeria

He also extended the same service to South Africa. In 1997, Dr Fatunla travelled to South Africa, where he quickly set up community based health care service centres to help the local community. He was also involved in the local Baptist church where he helped in the expansion and building of the Baptist ministry in the local communities.

Dr Fatunla subsequently joined the Government health care service in 2006 where he practiced selflessly as a Doctor until his retirement from South Africa government service in 2012. He was blessed with a loving wife Mrs. Grace Olutola Fatunla and seven children as well as Grand children. Among whom are ; Mrs Victoria Olusola – South Africa; Dr Abiola Fatunla – South Africa (Late); Dr. Mrs. Olubunmi Oyeleye – USA and Dr. Mrs. Modupe Adeniyi – USA. Others are; Mrs Mobolaji Hassan – USA, Mr Adeyemi Fatunla – South Africa and Mr Oluwatosin Fatunla – South Africa.